Hartley Courthouse
Hartley Historic Site
Overview
This fine example of colonial architecture allows you to imagine the convicts, magistrates and members of the public passing through its doors. Book a guided tour through Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre.
- Type
- Historic buildings/places
- Where
- 44 Old Great Western Highway, Hartley, NSW, 2790 - in Hartley Historic Site in Sydney and surrounds
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Price
-
$8.80 for adults or $6.60 for concession (including students, seniors and pensioners). Children under 5 are free.
- Opening times
- Self-guided tours are available between 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm from Tuesday to Sunday, unless school tours are in session.
- Call or email Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre for tour availability.
- Bookings
- Call or email Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre to make a booking. Book in advance for large groups, school groups, or other pre-arranged visits.
- Hire this venue
Hartley Courthouse is available for events and function hire.
- Please note
- To see inside the courthouse and church, you’ll need to buy a ticket for a self-guided tour.
- Contact Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre to check self-guided tour operating hours.
- Book in advance for large groups, school groups or for other pre-arranged visits.
- Tours may be unavailable if school excursions are in progress.
- Visitors can see Hartley Courthouse from the outside at any time.
Hartley Courthouse was designed by colonial architect Mortimer Lewis in the Greek Revival style. This imposing building was constructed of locally quarried sandstone in 1837 and remains largely intact.
You’ll feel immersed in its past with re-enactments of the court process through audio tracks and holograms. You can even step into a prison cell that kept many notorious bushrangers and cattle thieves. Inside the cells, with their bars and bolts still in position, you can imagine the thoughts of men used to roaming the country locked up tight in this remote prison.
In 1887 the Hartley Court of Petty Sessions was officially closed. It was reserved for public recreation in 1914 and became a popular rest stop for people travelling to Jenolan Caves. Today the building stands as a reminder of the past and the development of the colony.
Hire this venue or stay:
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Hartley Courthouse
Providing a rare vivid glimpse into Australia’s colonial past, Hartley Courthouse is the perfect venue for history buffs, or for those just looking for a venue hire option with a uniquely historic flavour.
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Old Trahlee
Old Trahlee offers unique accommodation in a charmingly restored colonial cottage in Hartley Historic Site, at the foot of the Blue Mountains.
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St Bernard's Presbytery
Stay at deluxe St Bernard’s Presbytery cottage for a romantic getaway. Located only 15 minutes from Mount Victoria, it’s the perfect spot to immerse yourself in Hartley Historic Site’s colonial past.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/historic-buildings-places/hartley-courthouse/local-alerts
Park info
- in Hartley Historic Site in the Sydney and surrounds region
Hartley Historic Site is open every day but access may be limited at times due to fire danger, school bookings or organised events.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Hartley Courthouse.
Getting there and parking
On entering Hartley Historic Site:
- Hartley Courthouse is located on the right as you enter the village
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Gravel street parking is available near Hartley Courthouse. Bus parking is available.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you at Hartley Historic Site. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
Enjoy the village as the days grow warmer and the trees are in blossom.
Summer
Bring the kids in the school holidays and step inside the amazing coolness of Hartley Courthouse, with its thick sandstone walls.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
12°C and 25°C
Highest recorded
38.4°C
Winter temperature
Average
1°C and 13°C
Lowest recorded
–8°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
179mm
Facilities
Public toilets, including an accessible toilet, are located behind the Old Post Office building, around 2mins walk away.
Drinking water is not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own or purchase from the visitor centre.
Picnic tables
Carpark
Seats and resting points
There are sandstone slabs near the picnic table that can be used as bench seats for resting.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Hartley Courthouse and the surrounding area is mostly flat. To get in and around the courthouse:
- There's a long, wide gravel path that leads from the road to the courthouse and around its exterior.
- There are two entrances to the building – each has a single door with 2 stone steps leading up to it. The steps don’t have handrails.
- There's a portable ramp that's available on request to help people with reduced mobility access the courthouse. The friendly staff at the visitor centre can assist in setting this up.
Outside the courthouse, there's an accessible picnic table, sandstone benches for resting and interpretive signage. You can reach some of these facilities along the gravel path. Others can be reached by crossing over flat grass.
The nearest accessible toilets are 2min walk away behind the Old Post Office building.
Permitted
Pets
Dogs are permitted in Hartley Historic Site, but you’ll need to keep them on a leash at all times.
Prohibited
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Visitor centre
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Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre
Farmers Inn, 51 Old Great Western Highway, Hartley 2790 - 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. Closed Mondays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- 02 6355 2117
Learn more
Hartley Courthouse is in Hartley Historic Site. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal meeting place
Hartley Historic Village is set in a landscape of great and continuing importance to Aboriginal people who have lived on and passed through this land for thousands of years.
A tor, or cluster of granite rocks known as Kew-Y-Ahn to local Aboriginal people, is said to have been a meeting place for the Wiradjuri People from the west and Gundungurra People from the east.
Excellent bushwalking on historic roads
The Hartley area is great for bushwalking. Kew-Y-Ahn Bells Rock Heritage Walking Track is a 600m return walk to a striking granite tor with valley views. Rowsons River walk is a 1km loop by the river and Rowsons Hut remains.
Outside the village, you may like to set out on Lawson's Long Alley, Lockyer's Pass or Berghofer's Pass. Hartley’s rural setting is welcoming and peaceful – perfect for a picnic or a satisfying stroll.
- Corneys Garage Nestled in the heart of Hartley Historic Site is Corneys Garage. Browse through a beautiful selection of antiques, while enjoying an immersive shopping experience near Lithgow.
- Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre Stop in at Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre to find out about the history of the buildings and town, book tours, and stock up on snacks and drinks.
- The Postmistress Cafe and Store The Postmistress Cafe and Store is in Hartley Historic Village, midway between Mount Victoria and Lithgow. Oozing rustic charm, this quaint cafe is the perfect stopover when visiting Hartley.
The story of settlement
This exceptionally well-maintained village is of national historical significance as a substantial early nineteenth-century settlement. It tells modern visitors a great deal about the expansion of European development in inland Australia and the beautiful old buildings illustrate the changing role and fortunes of Hartley from first settlement of the inland to the beginning of the motor transport era. Discover more interesting facts at the visitor centre or buy a ticket for a self-guided tour. Large groups can book in advance on (02) 6355 2117.
- Corneys Garage Nestled in the heart of Hartley Historic Site is Corneys Garage. Browse through a beautiful selection of antiques, while enjoying an immersive shopping experience near Lithgow.
- Hartley Courthouse This fine example of colonial architecture allows you to imagine the convicts, magistrates and members of the public passing through its doors. Book a guided tour through Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre.
- Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre Stop in at Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre to find out about the history of the buildings and town, book tours, and stock up on snacks and drinks.
- Hartley historical tour On this interactive Stage 3 (Years 5-6) History excursion, students visit key sites in the Hartley Historic Site colonial village: the courthouse, the gaol and St Bernards Church. They'll explore the history of how this key colony developed and take part in fun re-enactments with our Discovery Rangers.
- St Bernards Church Take a tour or arrange a wedding at St Bernards Church in Hartley, a lovingly preserved example of colonial sandstone architecture.